Knife and flash light



Dec. 13, 1932. R. D. BROWN KNIFE AND FLASH LIGHT Filed Feb. 14. 1951 Patented Dec. 13, 1932 UNlT- E STATES RICHARD 1). BROWN, OF CLEAN", NEW YORK KNIFE AND FLASH LIGHT Application filed February 14, 1931. Serial No. 515,856.

This invention relates to cutlery and more particularly to a combined knife. and flashlight.

One object of the invention is to provide a combined knife and flashlight which is preferably a hunting knife and has the flashlight mounted in its handle so that the knife may be used either as a knife or as a flashlight.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the handle of the knife that the battery may be mounted in a pocket formed longitudinally in the handle with the bulb carrying cap serving as a reinforcement for the rear end of the handle.

Another object of the invention is to permit the cap or carrier for the bulb to be easily removed from the handle when it is desired to obtain access to the battery, the cap serving not only as a carrier for the bulb but also as a '20 reinforcement and reflector.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved circuit closing means so associated with the battery that it will retain the A battery in its proper position in the pocket '25 formed in the handle and to further permit the switch arm to be very easily moved to a circuit closing position without danger of the circuit being accidentally closed when using the knife for cutting purposes or carrying it in a sheath.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved I knife and flashlight,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the handle of the knife,

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectlonal view taken along the line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 with the battery removed, and

preferably formed of insulating material so that additional insulation for the flashlight is not necessary. A pocket 4 is formed longi tudinally in the handle from the rear end thereof and is internally threaded as shown at 5 to receive the threaded neck or sleeve6 of a cap 7 which is formed of metal and has its outer face nickel plated in order to form a reflector 8.

It should be noted that the reflector 8 tapers inwardly and projects slightly beyond walls of the sleeve or neck 6, thereby forming an annular abutment for engagement by the outer end of a cup 9 whichis thrust into the neck and has a head 10 audits inner end 5 formed with an opening through which the hreaded base 11 of the bulb 12 is engaged. This cup is formed of conductive material. A rubber gasket 18 is provided in order to form a tight joint and prevent the cap 7 from working loose and the marginal edges of the cap are preferably roughened as shown in Figure 1 so that the cap may be screwed tightly into place. It will thus be seen that the cap will serve as a reinforcement for the rear end of the handle and also as a carrier and reflector for the bulb.

The battery 14 may be a single cell or a suitable number of cells in end to end engagement with each other. This battery is received in the pocket 4; and has its inner end bearing against a flat-disc or foot 15 extending transversely from the inner end of a strip 16. The strip and foot are formed of conductive metal and adjacent its outer end, the strip carries a side pin or button 17 which may be formed of metal or any other desired material and is slidably received in an opening 18 formed through a side portion of the handle.

By referring to Figures 1 and 2 it will be been that the opening 18 increases in dimension towards its outer end and that the button is entirely seated in this opening. Therefore the handle of the knife may be grasped 95 in the usual manner when using the knife for cutting purposes, and there will be no danger of the button being accidentally'pressed in wardly and closing a circuit through the bulb and battery.

lVhen, however, it is desired to light the bulb, a finger may be engaged with the outer end of the button and by pressing inwardly the outer end of the strip 16 or the rivet head 19, which serves to firmly hold the button in engagement with tne strip will contact with the cup 10 and complete a circuit through the battery and bulb.

A sleeve 20 which consists of a split ring of resilient conductive material fits about the battery near the outer end thereof and the strip 16 crosses this sleeve as shown in Figures 3 and i. This sleeve serves as a spacer to retain the battery in its proper position and prevent it from having transverse movement in the pocket 4 and it also acts as a spring to urge the strip away from the cup and thereby insure return of the strip 16 to its normal circuit breaking position shown in Figure 2 when pressure upon the button is removed.

I have therefore provided a knife which may be used as a knife for cutting purposes and may also be used as a flashlight, thereby making it unnecessary for a camper or hunter to carry both a knife and a flashlight.

I have further provided a knife having a bulb so mounted that it may be easily removed and a new one inserted when necessary, and have so mounted a battery in the handle of the knife that it will be firmly held in place when inserted but may be removed when worn out and a new no substituted.

What is claimed is:

1. A knife having a blade and a handle extending rearwardly therefrom and formed with a pocket opening through its rear end, there being a side opening leading from the pocket, a cap for the rear end of said handle having a center opening and a neck extending from the cap about the opening into said pocket, marginal portions of the cap icing folded inwardly to engage about the nee r and bear against the rear end of the handle. a sleeve fitted'into said neck, a bulb mounted in said sleeve with its base eXtend ng from the inner end of tie sleeve towards the inner end of said pocket, said s eeve serving; as a reflector for the bulb, a battery in said pi chet having its center contact engaged by the center contact of the bulb base, 'p of conducting material operatively connected with the battery and provided with a contact adapted to engage the sleeve, a split resilient ring carried by said strip and tending to hold the contact thereof out of engagement with the sleeve, and an actuating element carried by the strip and projecting through the side opening of the handle.

2. A knife having a blade and a handle extending rearwardly therefrom and formed with a pocket opening through its rear end, a side opening leading from the pocket, a cap for the rear end of said handle having a center opening, a sleeve carried by said cap and extending from the cap about the opening thereof into said pocket, a bulb mounted in said sleeve and extending therefrom into the pocket, a battery in said pocket having its center contact engaged by the center contact of the bulb, a strip of conductive material extending longitudinally in said pocket and having a side extension at its inner end engaging the shell of the battery, a split ring of resilient material disposed intermediate the length of said strip, said ring fitting about the battery to space the battery from walls of the pocket and serving as a spring to urge the free end of the strip away from said sleeve, and a button extending from said strip through the side opening of the handle whereby the outer end of the strip may be forced into position to engage the sleeve and close a circuit through the bulb and battery.

3. A knife ha ng a blade and a handle extending rearwardly therefrom and formed with a pocket opening through its rear end, a side opening leading from the pocket near the open end thereof, a cap for the rear end of said handle having a center opening and an open neck erending from the cap about the openin a sleeve fitting within said neck and received, in said pocket, a bulb mounted in said sleeve and extending from the inner thereof into the pocket, a battery in said socket havirw' its center contact engaged by the center cor ct of the bulb, a strip of con C ,ctive material cxtei'iding longitudinally in said pocket and having a foot at its inner end bearing against the inner end of the shell of the battery, a split sleeve of conductive material fitting about the said battery and crossed by an intermediate portion of said strip, and a button extending from the free outer end of said strip through the side opening of the handle whereby the outer end of the strip may be forced into position to engage said s eeve and close a circuit through the bulb and battery.

4. A knife having a handle formed. with a pocket opening through the end thereof, a metallic cap fitted in the open end of the p. clzet, an electric bulb carried by the cap, a battery disposed within the pocket and having contact with the bulb, there being an opening formed in the handle and communicating with the pocket, a strip of conducting material having a foot engaging one end of the battery and provided with a finger piece extending through the opening in the handle for moving the acent end of the conducting strip in contact with the cap, and a split resil ent sleeve carried by the conduct strip and encircling the battery and tendi g to hold said conducting strip in inoperative position.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

RICHARD 1). shown. 11.8. 

